Parking meter



oct. 14, 1941. D. c. R-QKOLA 2,259,177

I PARKING MELI'ER Filed Ju`1y 12, 1957 `2 Sheets-sheet 1 '1 HUH;

. I' IH nl" hill .David C. Foc/(02a 5) ocr. 14, 1941.

D. C. ROCKOLA PARKING METER Filed July 12v, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Illlll addZ. C.

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 .,U-Nrreio y'srlxa'lf.i:s iPArENT fori-ICE PARKING METER Davia or Rockola, chieegoml., assigner.. to National Park-olG'raf Corporation, Chicago, Ill., 1 alcorporationrofIllinois Application July 12, 1937, 'serial No; 153,103

'- 7`Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in parking meters.

The use'of metered parkingspace generally-re- A.quires theinsertion of a tokenor coin in ai-meter for setting the meter Vmechanism in position for indicating the-beginning. lofa; parking period. Inasmuch` as the use Yof such metersis not `merely for purposes of revenue but also for eifecting the orderly regulation of traflicfand discouragement ofthe occupancy of parking space by somemotorists .for extended periodsroflv time yto -the eX- clusion and inconvenience of others, itis recog nized that .frequently parking .meters as vhere-- vtofore constructed .and` usedhave penalized such motoristswho-have desiredto .park but-.a shortitimeas compared. with vthose who -make use Lof a metered parking space fora longerltime or for the full. parking. period accordedibyfmunicipal regulations. S'For example,..meters.at :present in l use require the insertion of a coin suchas a five-1:l cent piece `Whether the. .motorist wishes topark `five minutes orless `or whetherfheintends .to use Ithe spacefor `lthe full. alloted time,- such as an hour. Frequently a motorist Wishes -to .park la minute or. two While he steps into a storevor others establishment to makea purchase, for example.

"Requiring a motorist on such a -mission to pay the same. amountthat would. be required were he. to parkothe'full allottedtimeappears equi- Ainsertion of a tokerr'orcoinV at the `beginning of a'parking period regardless of the intended'duray-tion'oi useof the areafwill releaseor'refund the 4cointo the motorist atfany time during-a relatively short period after the #coin-is* inserted whereby motorists who actually require" the use of `the space for such'shortperiods-areinduced toa-cccpt a refund of their coins and: relinquish the space to others. vIn otherV words,`fitV isA an obj sctof the present invention to provolea `coin freed ,parking:meteriwhich provides a freepark- -ing period.

dit is of advantage ito- Ythe regulation.; ofv :traino that the meter-mechanismbe adjustable for: varying 'the duration ofthe parking period since in some localities of a municipality, `a parking period of. an hour maybe unobjectionable While in other Astreets thepar-king period maybe only a half 5 .hounfor example;` Meters having such adjustable mechanisms 4may be set` forfthe predetermined periods at the Vtime of rinstallation and may be altered after trial as warranted or required` by traflc conditions which, of course, may vary with l0 the seasons. It Will be obvious that meters providingfree parking periods Which may also be variedV as 'tramo'.conditions warrant will further 'facilitate the orderly regulation of traffic. For example, meters on a street `may be set to permit l5 ahve-.minute or.even` ten-minute .freeparking period'in conjunction with a total parking period ofone hour duringv a season wheretraicin such street isnot` excessive. At another season Oron 'another street Where tramov is heavier or during awsome special event'which'increases traic in such istreet, `it-'may'be Vdesirable to reduce. the full parking periodto a half hour and the free parking-period to threeminutes. l

"It-is* another 'object' vof `the invention, there- 23 foregj to provide. apmeter mechanism which is ad- Vinstable for varying the duration. of a free park- 'ing period'whereby such Afree parking period can 'be correlated or `coordinated with a vtotal `parking' period which is likewise preferably rendered .30 "variablelby adjustment of the meter mechanism.

` Other objectsof the invention relate to various features I-of construction and arrangement of 'partsiwhich willbe apparent from a consideration of the following vspeciiication and accom- 435 pany-ing drawings, wherein:

-`Fig.t 1' isl a broken rear elevation of a parking meter embodying the present improvements, a fhinged section of the meter casing being removed or llowered to disclose the mechanism more 40 clearly;

"Figj 2 is a verticalsectional view of the park- "ing-meter shown in Fig. 1 taken on the plane indicated generally by lines 2 2 of Fig. 3;

-fllig. S'isa broken sectional View taken on line -3L3 of Fig. 2; and

.'Tigl 4-is a broken sectional View taken on line i4--4"of Fig: 2.

'.The-meter mechanism disclosed in the accom- ,.panying drawings comprises generally coin freed mechanism which, when operated at the begin- Aningoffai parking period, energizes a driving or Htiming means for a parking period indicator and :simultaneously releases from arrestedV position 'the coin.r used previously infreeing the mecha- :nsm and effects the discharge-of such' coin into a coin receiving receptacle. 'Ihe present coin freed mechanism, the parking period indicator and the means for driving the same as well as the coin arresting device and other features of the meter are more fully shown and described in my copending applications, Serial No. 71,088, led March 27, 1936, now Patent No'. 2,171,345, issued August 29, 1939, and Serial Nos. 82,863 and 82,864, the latter having issued on September 13, 1938, as Patent No. 2,130,155, and both led June 1, 1936.

In the accompanying drawings, the meter mechanism is provided with a casing indicated generally by the numeral I and has a section hinged at the bottom which may be opened to provide access to the meter mechanism for adjusting the same or for removing the coins, a lock II being provided at the upper end of the casing IIJ for locking the sections together. The casing is shown as being mounted on a pillar or post I2 which in turn, in accordance with conventional practice, may be mounted at the curb adjacent the space to be controlled by the meter.

Mounted within the casing I 0 is a rotary member indicated generally by the numeral i3 and which is provided with an exterior handle or lever I4 by means of which it may be operated in setting and energizing the meter at the beginning of a parking period. The member I3 constitutes a portion of the coin freed mechanism of the meter and is provided with a circumferential lange or discv I5 on one side of which is provided ratchet teeth I1.

Mounted on the member I3 forrotation relatively thereto is a gear I8 having teeth at its peripheryY which mesh with a gear I9 journaled at 20 which in turn meshes with or engages a gear 2| which drives a shaft 22 of a timing device such as a clock work mechanism. The clock work mechanism is indicated generally by the numeral 23 in Fig. 1. When the gear I8 is rotated counter clockwise las viewed in Fig. 1, the gears I9 and 2l will likewise be actuated for winding up the clock work mechanism and for resetting the parking period indicator 24 which is carried by the shaft-22. In other words, as the clock mechanism is wound, the indicator 24 which, in the embodiment shownis in the form of a disc having suitable indicia thereon, will be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 1 and as the clock mechanism operates, the indicator will be rotated clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 and will indicate through window openings 26 in o-pposite walls of the meter casing (only one of lwhich is shown in Fig. 1) the remainder of the parking period. If desired, this mechanism may be provided withadditional indicia thereon such as shown at the right hand side of the member 24 in Fig. 1 for indicating a permissible or nonpermissible overtime parking period as more fully described in my Patent No. 2,171,345 abov referred to.

n When the period indicator 24 is being rotated to the position indicated in Fig. 1 as above mentioned, shutters 21 on opposite sides' of the member 24 and which are pivotally supported at dicator has been properly set. The shutters thus serve to indicate to the patron whether he has or hals-not actuated the lever I4 through the rewould, ofcourse, deprive the patron of his full allotted parking period. The shutters 21 may be provided with pointers 29 which occupy the position shown in Fig. 1 when the mechanism has been properly set in position at the beginning of a parking period. For .elevating the shutters 21, a link 30 is pivotally attached thereto at 3l and at its lower end is attached at 32 to a lever 33 which is pivoted at 34 to a stationary portion of the mechanism. The lever 33 is arranged to elevate the shutters 21 into the view obstructing position above described upon initial operation of the coin freed mechanism and to eiect the return of the shutters to the position shown in Fig.

` 1 when the meter has been properly set.

28 will be elevated to, obstruct the View of the member 24y through the windows 26 until the in- The lever 33 also serves as a lock to prevent the operation or setting of the meter without rst inserting a coin therein. For so locking the coin freed means against operation until a coin has been inserted, a pin 35 carried by the lever 33 is arranged to project into one of two slots 35 and 31 in the flange I5, depending upon which slot is uppermost. These slots are of suicient length circumferentially to permit Of a desirable limited arcuate movement of the member I3 when the handle I4 is operated even though no coin has been inserted,l such movement being insufficient, however, to effect winding of the indicator mechanism.

When a patron desires to set the mechanism he inserts a coin or token in a coin receiving passage 38 formed in the casing ID, communieating with which is a coin chute 39 which conducts the coin into one of two coin receiving recesses 40 and 4I provided in the member I3 each communicating with the slots 36 or 31, respectively. As shown in Fig. 1, a coin which is shown in dotted lines in the coin recess 45 will act as a cam to elevate the pin 35 from the slot 36 upon the initial movement of the member I3 in counter clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2. After the elevation from the slot, the pin will descend upon the periphery of the disc or ange I5 and will drop into the opposite slot 31 when the lever I4 has been rotated through an arc of Thus, it will be seen that when the lever I4 is operated, the lever 33 will be moved counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 and lift the shutters 21 to view-obstructing position during the setting of the indicator 24 and the energization of the indicator operating mechanism 23. As the pin 35 drops into the slot 36 or 31 at the Vend of a meter setting operation, the shutters will, of course, return to the position shown in Fig. 1 by gravity or by means of a spring 33a.

As the member I3 is rotated after the insertion of a coin as above described, the coin will be carried by said member into registration with a coin receiving passage 42 shown in Fig. 3, and will drop into said passage. During such movement of the coin, it will engage a pin or screw 43 which is carried by the gear I8 and which projects into the path of the moving coin whereby the coin acts as a key between the member I3 and the gear I 8 to eiect rotation of the latter in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and thereby effect rotation of gears I9 and 2| for effecting the setting of the indicator 24 and the energization of the indicator operating mechanism 23 as above described.

The member 43 may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to any one of several other positions determined by the additional receiving openings 44 whereby the arc may be varied through which the gear I8 will be driven during c setting' operation of Ithe meter. -i's'eatsnnormallyV in one Lof two' enlarged -notches -or recesses T46 or-41 which enable the handle I4 iand the` member I3 tobe initially rotatedthe .short` distance Vrequired for causing Vthe inserted coinor token Ito "effect the elevation *of the pin ffffrom` the`- notch '35 or-"3I in whichY itmaybe flo'cated.` for .eifectinglthe freeinglof thel member $13.

Iaesa'irr relativearc. Y' Thus, bysettingithe pin or screwl 43 in-"the -openingli'fMfassociated with lthe indicia .'sitionf'to 4af-positionwhere':the indicia 50 of the f member fmII-will register `with' t 'e -pointer or pointers 29. Other adjustments are providedrrfor i-the member 43 '-fori varying the duration ofthe `scribedU inL myfPatent No. 2,171,345, above menhtioned.

l' A springlzpressed pawlf`45fis providedwhichY co- "actswith theratchet teethY I'I vfor preventing re--` versal of-movementhof the lever I4 during=the The| V-pawl 45 Y AAs shown and described `more vfully in my'PattentNo. 2,130,'155.a coin droppinginto` the coin lreceivingrpassage42 is arrested. by means of a coinf arrestingimembersuch as the member `in- --dicated"generallyfby the numeral48 whichgas 1 shown' in-Fig. 3, is'inregistration with opposite sight windows T49; only one of which appearsin :said figure. t-lByt arresting the token or Acoin in position'l where it '.'isv Visible through either of the t l'windows referred tog'the use'of bogus `or spurious`` coins v"isfdis`\':ouraged.

` vi The coin :arresti-ng 'member' 48 -'comprises A a rod having its lower end 48a directed inwardly across --the passage 42' for? arresting' the coin that-dropsY` ufromlthefmember113. Themember-AS is pivotally mounted=at a" horizontally extending transverse -v portiorr 4819,"Whi`ch portion? is located in a' recess 49 provided :in-f a plate. .-Av removable. c1ip` 5| retains the'portion' 48h in position. The upper which cooperate'fwith Vthecam '"engageable porf tions 48e and-48d inpivotally swinging' timmermber 158 about its pivoted portionf'bto.causethe wcoin arresting'portion d8a'.k to: move outwardly or A.to the right'as'viewed'in Fig.l 3Lto' release fa; coin --andpermit it 'i to drop into Jcoinrecept'ade" 54 andv to i return.` the coin arrester alto thefposition shown. fThus,v during the movement of .the/mem-4 -ber l'through an'arc'of v180 in settingv theu'ne-V 'teryone ofthe 4cam'surfac'es (cam surface 53 as .lshown' in4 Fig. 1) 'will engage the portionilldof the'im'ember'iiand effectf'the release Aof the* arrested coin and promptlythereaften and before the" nexti coin is deposited-in .the passagefklZ, Vthe same Scam 'will'.engage 'the Aportion F4801 oflthe position shown inFigJB for arresting' vthelast -used coin as itidrops into said passage. Upon the .if succeeding operationSofthe'member. 13, the other cam `surface-i52 willi effect the Operation -ofii the -memberf 48 for' releasing-r the `previously;inserted i' coin 1 and arresting `the actuating coin.

In providing a meter.'offfthecharacterabove described with vmechanism.capable of providing a freefparkingperiodi `f limited duration; mech- `Janismisfprovidedforreturning the coinV from the `arrested position-shown in Fig. 3 to thepatron "5 .provfidd he'returns to theInet'er within a'predetermined-period with the. intention of relinquishing his space.

shown in Figs 1 and 2, a coin return chute 55 may be provided'which communicates with a 10'llatera1 enlargement 58 of-A the passage 42. An arrested coin isheld in the position shown inli'ig.4 3 Lbymeans ofyanl arm 51'held normally invertical positionfby-a lightspring 51a. The arm 51 normally, retainslthe coin in substantially the posi- R51-tion: shown inf^Fig. `BW-hereby the coin will drop I verticallyA downwardly v` when the member d8a is limov'ed Ato non-arresting-I position. 'A 'coin 'shifting' device 59=which may-bein the form of a wire @loop-sonas to .avoid obstructing the view of the 2OA arrested coin,` is-provided with laterally extending.arms16Qand-5I pivotallysecured to asta- "tionary-'portion of 'the structure by means of I clips :62. Thewarml `is provided with a depend- 'ing extensionfor :lever 63. Allight springV 64 "\251.sh0wnin= Fig. 'ltends to restore the member 59 to thevert'ical position shown in Fig. 3V when the -s'amehaslbeeny swung to the right or counter clockwise. as viewed in Fig. 3 in shifting a coin in the spacerf58 `for discharge into the communicat- 30. ing y:chute 55."1The light spring-51a permits the arn'r-to swing tothe 'rightaslthe coin is shifted V'bv;the'member 59. `For swingingthecoin shifter 59 in the manner statedfa'leve' 651may be provided which, as shown, is pivoted at Gli-to ears 61 35 carried 'fby a stationary portion of the structure. Thedeverl asshown in Fig.` 1` contacts' the arm `l63 ofsthe'memiber'SSandlis adaptedtoswing the vsame again'stltheaction ofy spring'to the right l as viewedirilig 3 as-stated. '-I G Fori .operatingfthe levervf5Y f suitable mechanism i' in` the 'forrnz `of:ea plunger :indicated generally by thernumeral-*SB*mayzbeifprovidedwhich extends 11exteriorlyofthecasing a-nd is guided in its move- V men-ts-'qbya'recessedboss orbearingg shown in fFigs. 3:-andf4. l. The plunger inithe'i-Eormlillustrated comprises" a tubular #member 1G etelesc'opically arranged :on` a .second tubular Amember 'I l, Vthe inner end VAf =which is projectablethrough A a'recess in theca'sing vintocontact with Athelever f65-forfswinging the same in the` mannerrstated ffor'eiecting'the rotation-of a coin.

-rAs 'shownA in' Fig.l 4; the1member110 is provided with outwardly struck Vlugs'".Iiwhich limitthe :outwardmovement of :themember -1'13 fromthe -boss 59 and-forma ai seat for aispring 13 which restores the plunger @member i Je tothe position @shown in Eig.' 4.after`rdepression Otthesameand Vrelease thereof. The innerend" of the member T10 is'providedV with inwardly directed lugs'M `f which projectzinto longitudinal slots 'l la provided inl the `member' 'i I and Fin-'cooperation' with `the v outer-ends offsaid slots limitrthe inward move- 'meut of'themernber 1| by aspringl .confined fbetweenfthe'lclosed vends of the two members lil tuate fthe 1everf`65 as `descridfbuteprovidesY for the telesco'picaction ofithe'member *10 upon the member'i'll 1in.: .the eventthe inward movement of .the member' 'I if' is obstru'tnsed.

1 VIn orderffto prevent Athe-operz'altion Vofi thelever 55 toP eiectiaV refund. or discharge of a coin from r the m'a'chinel` except' 'withinai predetermined inter-vali 'after'theiinser-tion-o afcoin intothe lmeis .iter .and'the setting K`of the5 same, means are -provided for obstructing the inward movementl of the member 1I, which means arer coordinated with the timing mechanism of the meter. Thus,

Ain the embodiment of the invention herein dis-` closed, a slidable bar 16 is provided which is guided in its reciprocatory movements by any suitable means such as th'e guide :lingers 11 carried by the member 18. The bar 16 is provided with teeth 16a which are arranged for engagement with the teeth of the gear I8 as shown in Fig. 2.

When a coin has been inserted in the machine and the handle I4 operated in setting the meter at the beginning of a parking period, the gear I8 is operated counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2'.

and hence elevates the bar 16. VIn so elevating the bar, the lower end thereof will move to a position above the plunger 68 and out of the path of movement of the inner plunger member 1I. Hence, it will be seen that during the period that the bar 16 is in non-obstructing position, the plunger 68 may be actuated for operating lever 65 and effecting the discharge of the coin through the chute 55. Since the gear I8 is rotated in a clockwise direction by the clock work mechanism during the parking period, the bar 16-wil1 be lowered Aand again moved into position between the end of the plunger 1I Vandthe lever 65 to prevent subsequent release of a coin. Since the arc of rotation of the gear I8 depends on the location of the adjustable pin 43, it will be seen that the height to which the bar 16 will be lifted depends on the setting of the meter in determining the parking period.

As shown in the drawings, the meter mechanism is arranged to provide for sixty-minute parking which may be assumed to provide a period of iive minutes after the setting of the meter during which the patron may return and operate plunger 68 to obtain a refund of his coin. Should the adjustable pin be shifted to one of the other positions provided for shortening the parking period say to fifty minutes, the free parking period would likewise be shortened due to the reduction in the arc of movement of the gear I8 and the consequent lesser elevation of the bar 16. Since it may be desirable to provide,

Afor example, a five minute free parking period with a sixty or fifty or forty-minute parking period, the bar 16 may be adjusted vertically with reference to the gear I6 to provide a free parking period of ve minutes regardless of the length of the metered parking priod.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bar 16 is provided withV graduations corresponding to the indicia on the gear I8, hence when the pin 43 is 'in the position shown in said figure and the bar 16 is so meshed with saidgear that the graduation 60 is in alignment with the arrow 19, a free parking period of ve minutes will be provided'while the main or metered parking period is one hour. Should the member 43 be adjusted to the next lower opening to provide a fifty-minute parking period, the bar 16 should be elevated so that the graduation marked VO is in alignment lwith the arrow 19 when the mechanism is in a position of rest. Such adjustment will provide a iiveminute freie parking period. Corresponding adjustments may be made to correlate the free parking period with the shorter metered parking periods as will be seen. To eect the shifting of the bar 16 as described, the member 18 may be released by unscrewing the mounting screws 80 andadjusting the bar as may be described.

Should it be desirable to shorten the metered parking period from sixty to fty or forty minutes, for example, and to shorten the free parking period correspondingly, the bar 16 may be so adjusted by shifting it the extent necessary. This arrangement thus enables the free parking period control mechanism to be correlated with the parking period indicator as may be desired.

In accordance with the present invention, it will be seen that a patron who wishes to use a parking space but a few minutes will insert a coin or token in the vusual manner and set the meter. If he returns within the predetermined free parking period and operates the plunger 68, the coin which he inserted will be returned to him. The absence of a coin in the arrested position shown in Fig. 3 will indicate that the previous occupier of that space has received a refund of his coin andis'no longer entitled to occupy the space. Hence, one occupying a meter space, the meter of which is operating,.may not properly do so without inserting a coin and resetting the meter so that his coin is visible through the sight windows 48. The windows, therefore, not only serve to discourage the use of spurious coins but also discourage cheating as by a motorist setting the meter and immediately obtaining a refund of his coin without vacating the space. Since spurious coins may be employed for operating the parking meter, the arrangement described Wherein the coin inserted by the patron may be returned to him is preferred, whereby, in the event a spurious Acoin is used in operating the meter, such fraudulent practice will not be rewarded by the return of a valid coin as might be the case'where the nefund made from coins previously deposited in the coin box.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my improvements for the purpose of illustration, it will be seen that various changes may be made in the illustrative mechanism herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. A parking meter comprising a parking period indicator, means for operating said indicator, means freeable by an inserted coin for energizing said operating means, means for discharging said coin from the meter,V and means controlled by said operating meansV for rendering said discharging means ineiective to discharge the coin after a predetermined initial portion of said period.

2. A parking meter comprising a parking period indicator, means for operating said indicator, means ireeable by 4an inserted coin for energizing said operating means, manually operable means for discharging from the meter an inserted coin within a predetermined initial portion of a parking period, and means controlled by said operating means for preventing the discharge of a coin after said initial portion of the respective parking` period.

3. A parking meter comprising a parking period indicator, coin freed means for setting said indicator in position for indicating the beginning of a parking period, operable means adapted to eiect the refund of a coin from the meter during a predetermined initial portion of the parking period, and'means synchronized with the operation of said indicator for rendering said refunding means ineffective after vsaid initial ,portion of the parking period. f

4. A parking meter comprising a parking period indicator, timing means for operating the same, coin freed means for effecting the energization of said timing means, operable means for effecting the refund of a coin from said meter during an initial portion of a parking period, and means controlled by said timing means for rendering said refunding means ineffective after said initial portion of the parking period.

5. A parking meter comprising a parking period indicator, means for operating the same, means for varying the length of the parking period indicated by said indicator, coin freed means for effecting the energization of said indicator operating means, means rendering a coin refundable from said meter during a predetermined initial portion of the parking period, and means for varying the length of the initial portion of the parking period during which a coin is refundable.

6. A parking meter comprising a parking period indicator, means for actuating the indicator during a parking period, a gear, coin freed means for operating said gear in one direction for effecting the energization of said actuating means, said gear being operable in the opposite direction by said coin freed means, means for discharging a coin from the meter, a member manually operable from the exterior of the meter for actuating said coin discharging means, and an bstructing member for said manually operable member provided With a rack meshing with said gear and operable by the latter to inoperative p0- sition during the energization of said indicator actuating means and operable in the opposite direction by said gear upon operation of the same by said actuating means for moving said obstructing member into obstructing position with respect to said manually operable member for preventing the actuation of the coin discharge means after a predetermined initial portion of the parking period.

Y 7. A parking meter comprising a parking period indicator, driving means therefor, operable means freeable by an inserted coin, manually operable means for discharging an inserted coin from the meter, movable means for obstructing the eiectual operation of said coin discharge means, and mechanism operable in one direction by said coin freed operable means for effecting the energization of said driving means and for moving said obstructing means to an inoperable position at the beginning of a parking period and operable in the opposite direction by said driving means for effecting the movement of said obstructing means to operative position upon the termination of a predetermined initial portion of a parking period.

DAVID C. ROCKOLA. 

